Question 1

The Dr. Joseph E. Bowman, Jr. Memorial Educational Scholarship

Accepted Answer

This is a one-time competitive and non-renewable scholarship of $500 available for Capital Region students who will pursue a higher education major in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM). The scholarship will be awarded to eligible high school seniors who are underrepresented, including members and non-members of Macedonia Baptist Church who attend any Capital District Region high school, and plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college/university after graduation. The annual application deadline is April 15th.

Program Overview

Dr. Joseph E. Bowman, Jr. Memorial Educational Scholarship is sponsored through donations and will be administered by the Macedonia Baptist Church Scholarship Fund Ministry in conjunction with the Macedonia Baptist Church Board of Trustees. The one-time non-renewable scholarship is available for students who will pursue a higher education career in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).  The scholarship will be awarded to eligible high school senior students who are underrepresented including members and non-members of Macedonia Baptist Church that attend any Capital District Region high school and who plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year college/university after graduation. The amount funded by donations is for a specified period.  The amount designated will be awarded to a recipient to be used toward the purchase of books and/or assist with any college-related fees or tuition.

About
In recognition of her husband of 24 years and their dad's pursuit of ensuring access to education to students, the Bowman Family in April 2013 established a tribute to Dr. Joseph ("OJ") Bowman to benefit the creation of Dr. Joseph E. Bowman, Jr. Memorial Educational Scholarship. The scholarship is funded by the Bowman Family and administered by their home of worship, Macedonia Baptist Church in Albany, New York. 
Dr. Joseph Bowman Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 22, 1950, to Violetta and Joseph Bowman. Joseph was very active when growing up; he was part of the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Troop 731 and was the first "Mr. Bethany" at Bethany Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Bowman graduated from Junior High School 210 and Midwood High School, in Brooklyn.  He knew he wanted to go to college, but was not sure if he was ready for the college classroom and what degree program area he wanted to study.  In the summer of 1968, he attended the Equal Opportunity Center in Brooklyn where he took college prep courses in Computer Science and English. Once he finished the courses, he was ready to pursue his college career.  To his surprise, Dr. Bowman's high school counselor recommended that he apply to the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) at the University of Albany. There, he earned his bachelor's degrees in Africana Studies and Sociology in 1972 and his master's degree in Library Science and Secondary Education in 1975. Joseph was very driven and dedicated to giving new opportunities to peers; he was instrumental in creating the African-American Studies Department at the University of Albany during his undergraduate tenure.  Dr. Bowman continued his education at Teacher's College, Columbia University where he pursued other master’s degrees in Educational Technology in 1983 and Computer and Education in 1984 as well as a doctorate in Communications and Technology in Education in 1991. He was elected to the New York State Board of Regents in 2001.

Dr. Joseph “OJ” Bowman was a great human contributor to education and social issues in New York State.  He continuously served as an advocate and spearheaded long and endless efforts for minority and economically disadvantaged students to ensure their inclusion in the revolution of educational technology.  In 1990, during his graduate studies at Columbia University, he founded the Center for Urban Youth and Technology (CUYT) to create interest in education, community development, youth development, professional teacher development, and technology in urban minority middle and high schools in New York City.  Dr. Bowman never wanted to stop producing opportunities for the communities; in 2007 he created an Institute of Nanoscale Technology for Youth (INTY) that provided selected urban schools an opportunity to work with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (now known as SUNY Polytechnic Institute). 
The Macedonia Baptist Church Dr. Joseph E. Bowman, Jr. Memorial Educational Scholarship is a direct investment in the future of underrepresented students seeking careers at the college level in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).

Question 2

The Macedonia Merit Scholarship (MMS)

Accepted Answer

his is a merit-based scholarship for Capital District region high school seniors. This is a one-time non-renewable award. The annual application deadline is April 15th.

Program Overview
 The Macedonia Merit Scholarship is sponsored by the Macedonia Scholarship Fund and is administered by the Fund in conjunction with the Macedonia Baptist Church Board of Trustees.  This scholarship is available to outstanding high school seniors of African ancestry attending an accredited high school, and at the time of application have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or greater on a scale of 4.0. The amount designated will be awarded to recipients to be used toward the purchase of books and/or college tuition and fees.  The Macedonia Merit Scholarship is a direct investment in the future of Capital District region youth seeking educational achievement, advancement, and success.

Question 3

Macedonia Higher Education Assistance Program (MHEAP)

Accepted Answer

For active youth members of the Macedonia Church Family who will pursue higher education immediately after graduating from high school (i.e., graduate from high school in May/June and attend college in August/September). Financial support is provided each fall and spring semester beginning with the freshman year and continuing to graduation. The MHEAP funds assist with the purchase of books, tuition, housing, and/or college fees. The annual application deadline is September 30th for the fall semester and January 30th for the spring semester.

Program Overview
The Macedonia Higher Education Assistance Program (MHEAP) was established by the Board of Christian Education to provide financial assistance and encouragement to our members seeking post-secondary education.  MHEAP is given annually to active youth members of Macedonia Baptist Church who are carrying a course load of 9 or more credits for the fall and spring semesters and are matriculated undergraduate students at a four or two-year college, university, technical or vocational school.  Students must submit a copy of their course registration by September 30th and a copy of their second-semester course registration by January 30th.  Participation in this program shall not exceed four years or the designated amount of the award.

Question 4

Macedonia High School Education Assistance Program (HSEAP)

Accepted Answer

This is to assist high school students who are in “good academic standing” and are experiencing financial difficulties in acquiring the tools needed to perform their schoolwork.

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Question 5

Reverend Leonard D. Comithier, Jr. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholarship

Accepted Answer

Recently renamed to honor Pastor-Emeritus Comithier, this award is for active youth members of Macedonia Baptist Church who will pursue higher education at an HBCU institution upon graduating from high school (not to exceed $4,000). This award was established to help encourage students to attend and experience these institutions of higher learning. The annual application deadline is April 15th.

Program Overview:

The Rev. Leonard D. Comithier Historically Black Colleges and Universities scholarship was established to provide an avenue for the higher education of free Blacks and former slaves, who were often denied access to the halls of white institutions. These institutions, more often than not, had fewer material resources, such as textbooks and laboratory supplies; but had an unwavering commitment to the education and advancement of black students. As a result, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have provided society, black communities in particular, with a slew of professionals: doctors, teachers, lawyers, preachers, scientists, engineers, nurses, social workers, and other professionals. Today, HBCUs continue to be an avenue for quality and affordable education for black students as well as students of other races.

As a community of faith, Macedonia Baptist Church supports and encourages matriculation at an HBCU institution. The Macedonia Scholarship Fund Committee offers semester-based scholarship awards (fall and spring semesters) to members of the church who attend an HBCU upon graduation.

While a particular Grade Point Average is not required for high school seniors to initially attain the award, the expectation is clear that the student must be academically capable of successfully completing college courses. This scholarship is intended to reward success and hard work. The committee has the discretion to determine if a student’s academic success warrants the continued granting of scholarship funds.

Subsequently, after the close of each semester, recipients must provide a copy of their transcript along with proof of continued matriculation, in order to continue receiving funds.  Students are awarded the funds each semester, for up to a maximum of four years or eight semesters of study not to exceed the amount specified by the committee.
These funds may be used to purchase books, assist with college tuition, or other items required for college matriculation, such as fees.  All checks will be made payable to the HBCU and mailed directly to the institution by the Scholarship Fund Committee, based on intended need or use.

Question 6

The Larry & Jasán Ward Scholar-Athlete Award

Accepted Answer

The amount of the award will be $1,000. The one-time non-renewable award will be given annually to an eligible male high school senior who will be attending an accredited four-year college after graduation. Underrepresented male students who are members or non-members of Macedonia Baptist Church are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to male students graduating from Columbia High School in East Greenbush or the Albany Academy for Boys, however, students from any Capital District Region the high school will be eligible to apply.

Program Overview
The award will be funded by the family of Larry and Jasán Ward and will be administered by the Macedonia Baptist Church Scholarship Fund Committee in conjunction with the Macedonia Baptist Church Board of Trustees.

About Lawrence Ward 
Lawrence “Larry” Ward died at age forty-three after a long and heroic battle related to a diagnosis of brain cancer at age fourteen. Larry was the devoted and loving husband of Brenda Maier Ward for almost seventeen years. They meet when they were both employed at the Menand’s Workshop in Albany. They were the first married couple in the Wildwood Supported Living Program. Larry and Brenda had such a special love and commitment to each other – a love that overcame their disabilities and racial differences, setting an example of true love for all.

Larry was born on June 8, 1966, in Albany, New York to the late Lawrence J. Ward, Sr., and Mikki Ward-Harper. He is the stepson of Edward W. Harper. He was a graduate of Columbia High School in East Greenbush, New York. Prior to his illness, Larry stood out as a promising and outstanding athlete in baseball, basketball, football, and track and he was an honor-roll student, as well.

He was employed following high school at various sheltered employment opportunities, but Larry’s greatest joy was spent as a volunteer “coach” to the Columbia High School Basketball teams. He missed very few games. He received special recognition and a plaque thanking him for twenty-five years of service to the Columbia Basketball program. After his passing, he received posthumous recognition from the Rensselaer County Legislature for his dedication and service to East Greenbush and the East Greenbush Central School District.

Larry truly loved life and never complained about how his disabilities created limitations for him. His smile and his laugh will long be remembered by those who knew and loved him. He was a true inspiration to many. His mother told him right before his passing that he was the bravest person she had ever known in her life.

About Jasán Maurice Ward
Jasán Maurice Ward was born on January 15, 1972, in Albany, New York. He joined his older brother, Larry, in heaven on March 19, 2021.
Jasán shared his birthday with Martin Luther King. This carried a personal significance for him. He believed that it was important that he lived a life in honor of the man he revered. His life was purpose-driven and he possessed a passion for art, music, dance, fashion, and the written word. He strongly believed “to whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48).” Jasán grew up in East Greenbush where he attended elementary and junior high school. His high school years were spent at the Albany Academy for Boys where he excelled academically and developed leadership skills. He was a “Tri-Captain” as he was captain of the Band, Swim Team, and Track Team. Aside from winning National Latin and French awards – at graduation, he received the U.S.S. Cruiser Award. This is the highest award given to the student who most exemplifies what an Albany Academy cadet should be. He went on to Cornell University but in his senior year had a major life crisis and injury that curtailed his studies.

He began his professional work in 2001 as a Case Manager at the AIDS Council of NY. It was here that he first began what would be a lifelong calling of providing support to the underserved and especially the LGBT, people of color, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
From December 2006 – May 2007, he took a brief hiatus from Human Service work and spent time living with friends in Montreal. While there he attended the ILSC-Montreal, University of Cambridge CELTA Program, an intensive six-week course designed to produce Certified English as a Second Language (ESL)Teachers for Adults. Being fluent in French he was certified to teach adult students English in either English or French. In May of 2007, he began working at In Our Own Voices, a nonprofit dedicated to creating positive changes by promoting the health and wellness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people of color. He gained experience in program development, grant writing, creating, and delivering educational and training programs, fund-raising, and coordinating major community events and conferences.

In November 2012 Jasán started working in New York City at the MOCHA Center where his position was the Capacity Building Manager for the Taskforce on Black Gay Health. When the funding for the position in New York City ran out the MOCHA Center transferred him to their Rochester, NY office. He served as the Manager of Prevention Programs and ultimately as the Senior Director of Programs & Evaluation. He provided training, and workshops and developed major conferences for a broad range of Health & Human Service Providers. This increased their cultural awareness and sensitivity enabling them to provide more effective services to the target populations. In 2012, he was named an “Emerging Black LGBT Leader” and was invited to a policy briefing addressing HIV and other issues affecting the LGBT people of color communities at the White House. He was invited back to the White House in 2013 and 2014 to meet with Senior White House staff concerning the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. He also became a spokesmodel for the HIV STOPS WITH ME campaign in 2014. He also served on Community Advisory Boards related to HIV & Cancer, and HIV Vaccine Trials and was a trainer for the National Coalition Building Institute and the Trevor Project.

From 2015 to the beginning of 2018, Jasán stepped away from human services to work as the Communications and Development Associate for the Garth Fagan Dance Company in Rochester, NY. He was there for their 45th Anniversary Season 2015-2017. He returned to the Albany, NY area in early 2018 to fulfill his goal of working for the New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute. He began at the AIDS Institute as a Health Program Administrator/Contract Manager in the Bureau of HIV Ambulatory Care Services, managing various contracts/programs in several parts of the state. He was promoted the next year to the position of Program Coordinator for the Office of Planning and Community Affairs in the Executive Office. During his last months at work, from a hospital bed in his living room, Jasán coordinated the programming for the first-ever “Virtual World AIDS Day and Ending the Epidemic Conference.” Charisse Williams, who became friends with Jasán while they were at Cornell, published a book entitled The Joy of Thriving While Black. Jasan’s story is the chapter on “Joy.”

Macedonia Baptist Church

Scholarship Ministry

Scholarship
& Awards

Scholarship Ministry

Scholarship & Awards

Scholarship
& Awards